Robert De Niro became highly emotional while talking about mental illness during an interview with Katie Couric on Monday, according to the Huffington Post.

The actor appeared with “Silver Linings Playbook” co-star Bradley Cooper and director David O. Russell. The other two men discussed bipolar and mood disorders — Russell’s son suffers from bipolar disorder, which inspired the director to make the movie.

De Niro didn’t say much, but when asked about how he related to the movie, the 69-year-old acting legend — who has four sons — started talking, then stopped. “I don’t like to get emotional, but I know exactly what (Russell) goes through,” De Niro said, voice cracking. He appeared to be holding back tears.

Russell said De Niro related deeply to the movie, telling Couric he saw a strong visceral reaction from the actor after he read the script. “I thought he was having hay fever, then I realized he was having an emotional reaction and I sat there and watched Robert De Niro cry for 10 minutes and I said, ‘Wow he’s really connecting with this material and this would be beautiful thing if it could work out, because I think his heart would be there’ and it is there.”

“Silver Linings Playbook” is nominated for eight Academy Awards, including De Niro for best supporting actor.

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